02.11.2016
Softing AG DE0005178008
DGAP-News: Softing AG: Q3 2016 Statement
DGAP-News: Softing AG / Key word(s): Quarterly / Interim Statement
Softing AG: Q3 2016 Statement
02.11.2016 / 13:01
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Revenue for the first nine months up slightly on previous year
EBIT down on year-on-year as expected
Guidance for the year confirmed
Dear Shareholders, Employees,
Partners and Friends of Softing AG,
In the third quarter of 2016, Softing largely compensated for weaker sales
in the US market by significantly growing the business in Europe and Asia.
Third-quarter revenue stood at EUR 20.5 million, almost matching the
previous year's figure of EUR 20.8 million. As expected, EBIT was impacted
by an absence of extremely high-margin orders in the US market, despite
good earnings performance in other regions. EBIT for the quarter amounted
to EUR 1.0 million (previous year: EUR 1.6 million), with operating EBIT of
EUR 1.1 million (previous year: EUR 2.3 million) more severely affected by
extensive new developments.
Sales for the first nine months of the year increased to EUR 58.9 million
(previous year: EUR 57.3 million), while EBIT declined to EUR 2.5 million
(previous year: EUR 3.1 million). Cash holdings increased by almost EUR 2
million to EUR 8.4 million, thanks in part to strong cash flows in the
current year.
The underlying trend of the first half of the year continued in the third
quarter. While we continue to see improvement in the US business, the
economy has not yet recovered to the record levels of the previous year.
Nevertheless, we are optimistic about the prospects for 2017 and beyond.
The company received the first major order for a new customer during the
third quarter, while another customer is expected to decide in favor of
Softing products in the fourth quarter. The new business expected from this
has the potential to shape the development of the US business for years to
come.
Softing IT Networks GmbH increased revenue significantly in the third
quarter and the development of the business is peaking during the current
fourth quarter. In Europe, we have been focusing on considerably
intensifying our business and were able to strengthen our team with
outstanding new staff in several roles that will be key to our success. We
are also continuing to expand our product portfolio with new devices.
Although this generates costs in the short term, it will also fuel our
growth over the next few years.
The Automotive segment continued to improve its visibility and positioning
in the heavy duty diesel market during the third quarter. We participated
in four trade fairs and conferences where we reinforced our diagnostics and
security expertise by giving specialist presentations. This enabled us to
establish contact with several vehicle manufacturers, particularly in the
USA, that will generate new business in 2017. We are placing a similar
focus on Asia in the current fourth quarter by giving seminars and training
sessions to existing and future major customers.
We also want to continue expanding our market position through the
acquisition of suitable target companies. While doing this, we will also
let ourselves be guided by the overriding strategic importance of taking
business risks into consideration when structuring these acquisitions. Our
third-quarter checks revealed that some individual takeover candidates were
unable to meet these criteria. They were replaced with new opportunities
that are currently under review. Based on current information, we
anticipate that these transactions will take place in the first quarter of
2017 rather than the current year.
We confirm our existing guidance of annual revenue of between EUR 80 and 85
million and EBIT within a range of EUR 7 and 8 million. While the timely
delivery of several major orders in December poses a residual risk to our
forecasts, this primarily affects sales as a result of advance payments.
Nevertheless, we are currently confident of being able to process these
deliveries on schedule.
We hope that you, Softing's shareholders and friends, will remain
associated with us going forward and will continue to participate in the
Company's development.
Sincerely Yours,
Wolfgang Trier
Q3 2016 Statement
The quarterly management statement as of September 30, 2016, which was
prepared on the basis of International Accounting Standard (IAS) 34
"Interim Financial Reporting", does not contain all of the required
information in accordance with the requirements for the presentation of the
annual report and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements of Softing AG as of December 31, 2015 (which were
prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRSs) of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) applicable
as of the reporting date). In general, the same accounting policies were
applied in the quarterly management statement as of September 30, 2016 as
in the consolidated financial statements for the 2015 financial year. As of
the reporting date of September 30, 2016, the Company's risk structure had
not deviated significantly from the description in the consolidated
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015. Material changes
are also not expected for the remaining three months of 2016. For more
detailed information, we refer to our Group Management Report in the 2015
Annual Report, page 9 et seq. There was one change in the basis of
consolidation of Softing AG as of September 30, 2016. Shanghai Softing
software Co., Ltd, which was founded by Softing, commenced operations
effective August 1 and is now responsible for distributing Softing products
in China.
In the first nine months, the Industrial segment's growth trajectory in
Europe was strong, but performance in the United States and Asia was weaker
year on year. Compared with the prior-year period, growth in the Automotive
segment was very good, and performance going forward looks positive as
well.
Key figures of the Softing Group at a glance:
All figures in EUR Quarterly report Quarterly report
million
3/2016 3/2015
Incoming orders 59.4 63.0
Revenue 58.9 57.3
EBITDA 6.2 7.0
EBIT (operating) 2.7 3.9
Net profit for the 1.6 2.1
year
Earnings per share in 0.38 0.57
EUR (operating)
Results of Operations
In the Automotive Electronics segment, revenue rose by 13% in the first
nine months of 2016 to EUR 16.8 million (previous year: EUR 14.9 million),
while the Industrial Automation segment saw virtually stable revenue of EUR
42.1 million (previous year: EUR 42.4 million).
EBIT (operating) in the Automotive segment was up from EUR 0.4 million to
EUR 0.7 million. In the Industrial segment, EBIT (operating) declined from
EUR 3.7 million to EUR 2.0 million.
Despite the weakness of the US market, the total revenue of the Softing
Group amounted to EUR 58.9 million in the first nine months of 2016,
increasing EUR 1.6 million year on year (previous year: EUR 57.3 million).
Operating EBIT (EBIT adjusted for capitalized development services and
amortization on these as well as effects from purchase price allocation) in
the reporting period totaled EUR 2.7 million (previous year: EUR 3.9
million). The decline is largely due to the lower gross profit generated on
the US market. EBIT amounted to EUR 2.5 million (previous year: EUR 3.1
million). EBITDA was EUR 6.2 million in the first nine months (previous
year: EUR 7.0 million), and the EBITDA margin was 10% (previous year: 12%).
Net Assets and Financial Position
The equity ratio as of September 30, 2016 was 53% (December 31, 2015: 51%);
the share capital of Softing AG remained unchanged at EUR 6,959,438 as of
September 30, 2016.
Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2016 amounted to EUR 8.4
million (December 31, 2015: EUR 9.2 million). Capital expenditure on
property, plant, and equipment was insignificant and comprised only
replacements.
Research and Product Development
In the first three months of 2016, Softing capitalized a total of EUR 2.7
million (previous year: EUR 2.3 million) for the development of new
products and the enhancement of existing ones. Other significant amounts
were expensed.
Employees
As of September 30, 2016, the Softing Group had 430 employees (previous
year: 433). During the reporting period, no stock options were issued to
employees.
Outlook
For 2016 as a whole, Softing estimates that the European Group companies in
the Industrial and Automotive segments will see a moderate increase in
revenue, motivated for now by the behavior of individual customers rather
than the economy. Since the third quarter of 2016, we have seen a reversal
in the trend for the US Group companies due to the launch of new products
and delivery deadlines. Our specified revenue guidance for the full 2016
year is EUR 80-85 million. The EBIT forecast is in a range of EUR 7-8
million.
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Language: English
Company: Softing AG
Richard-Reitzner-Allee 6
85540 Haar
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)89 456 56-333
Fax: +49 (0)89 456 56-399
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.softing.com
ISIN: DE0005178008
WKN: 517800
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated
Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich,
Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
End of News DGAP News Service
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